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Understanding the Traumatic Nature of ACL Injuries

March 11, 2023 by Robert Andrews Leave a Comment

Robert B. Andrews MA, LMFT

For many athletes coming back from a serious sports related injury is a terrifying ordeal. They have been cleared to play physically, but their fear of suffering another injury can be debilitating. These fears can cause complications with their return to play. Many suffer from confusion, anxiety, anger, shame and guilt. If they have been “cleared to play”, then why do they feel so bad? Many feel that something is wrong with them if they can’t come back confident and in a good frame of mind.Sports Injury

I was talking with a soccer player about a teammate who suffered a strained ACL. The injured athlete took time off for the injury to heal. When they returned to play they were terrified. They were afraid of injuring their knee again and played with anxiety, fear, and apprehension. They did not play all out and their hesitancy was apparent. It grew worse with each game. As their anxiety and fear grew they became more emotional during the games. It was apparent to everyone watching that something was wrong.

I began to get excited at the thought of helping this athlete overcome their sports injury trauma. As I reached for a business card for the parent of the struggling athlete I was told that during their last game the athlete had torn their ACL completely. The field was in really bad condition and their fear of re-injury was amplified. They were crying while trying to play soccer. They ended up in a fight for the ball and injured their knee. I felt my heart sink when they told me this part of the story.

Too Many Sad Stories

I was on the sidelines of a football game watching a running back who had torn his ACL the year before. He was hesitating as he ran and favoring the injured knee. After the game I told his coach that he was going to suffer an ACL injury to the other knee if he didn’t get some help with the trauma from the first injury. The next week he tore his other ACL.

I was watching a game on television and I observed hesitation and apprehension in an offensive lineman who had injured his left knee the year before. I turned the game off at half time. A few days later I called his athletic trainer and mentioned to him that I believed that this lineman was heading towards an injury on his other knee. He asked me why I felt this way. I told him what I observed watching the game. He said that was interesting and that the lineman had torn his other ACL in the fourth quarter of that game.Overcoming Sports Injuries

Is the Wrong Message Being Sent?

An athlete I helped overcome a horrific injury was interviewed about his “miracle comeback”. When they asked this athlete what they did to make such a profound come back they said they just had a “really strong attitude and mind set”. They didn’t mention all the hard work they did mentally and emotionally to overcome the trauma they suffered while injured and unable to compete. I believe this athlete did a disservice to other athletes who are trying to overcome the trauma and the mental and emotional blocks that stand in the way of a full “100%” recovery. They sent a message to other injured athletes that all you have to do is have a strong mindset and everything will be o.k.

This message can have a profoundly negative impact on the athlete who is struggling to get back mentally and emotionally. It can create doubt and confusion, and erode self confidence. Many athletes never find their way back from injury because they can’t overcome this cauldron of powerful emotions.

The New Way Back From Injury

I was watching a game on TV recently. An athlete I helped overcome a serious injury was having a great game. It was apparent that they were confident, in command, and had no fear of re-injury. The commentator said it was apparent that this athlete was back physically, but that they were back mentally too. My wife asked me to replay his comment. We listened to it again and she said “someone gets it”. This commentator could see from the way this athlete was playing that they have experienced a complete psychological recovery from their injury too.

I wish I could have helped the young soccer player before they suffered a completely torn ACL. I wish I could help every injured athlete. Treating the traumatic nature of sports related injuries puts the athlete back in charge and rids them of fear, anxiety, apprehension, depression and self doubt. They return to play mentally stronger and tougher. Not only does their attitude and outlook get better, they come back wiser and more mature. This wisdom and maturity permeates all areas of their lives. They learn a lot in the process of coming back.  Download a pdf version of this post

Filed Under: ACL Injury Recovery, Athletes mental health, Mental Aspects of Sports Injuries, Mental Health in Sports, Sports Injuries and Trauma, Sports Injury Recovery Tagged With: ACL Injuries, Athletes Mental Health, Mental impact of injuries

What Do PTSD, War Veterans, And Injured Athletes Have In Common?

May 13, 2016 by Robert Andrews 7 Comments

By Robert B. Andrews MA, LMFT

PTSD from war trauma is a terrible aftershock for soldiers who experience the horrors of war. I recently read an article about PTSD in veterans who suffer from the effects of PTSD.  I  was struck by how exact the imprinting process for war trauma is when compared to  athletes who suffer serious sports related injuries.

Overcoming Sports InjuriesI don’t mean to compare the intensity of war trauma to athletic performance, or minimize our soldiers experiences. My intent is to point out the similarities in brain functioning and imprinting between war time experiences and serious sports related injuries.

The quote below comes from an article by Nolan Peterson about PTSD in the military. Although he is talking about intense combat experiences he perfectly describes the mental imprinting process that athletes experience when suffering a serious sports related injury like an ACL, broken leg, or concussion.

“But that’s the point. The hormones released by high-stress situations instruct the brain to imprint memories more deeply.  Evolution taught us that trick: The caveman who could best remember how he escaped a saber-toothed tiger attack had a statistically better shot at surviving the next one.  That’s why time appears to slow down in a car crash or while you’re getting mugged. The adrenaline coursing through your veins triggers your brain into hyperactive memory storage. Your mind and senses go into overdrive, absorbing every sensory detail with superhuman lucidity and completeness.

Because of this, an event that might only last a split second occupies as much mental storage space as a week or a month. Years later you can recall details, feelings, colors, smells, and sounds more vividly than you can remember this morning’s breakfast.” ~ Nolan Peterson

To the Brain, Trauma is Trauma

Baseball Player DownSo sports injuries can be traumatic to the athlete.

I have spoken with athletes who tore their ACL and can remember what the grass smelled like when they laid on the field after being injured. Others recall how quiet the crowd became and how bright the lights were.  Many hold an image of their teammates all looking at them as the trainers and team physicians looked after them.

These images are loaded with unprocessed information related to the injury.

I treat injuries from a trauma based approach. We teach the brain how to process this overwhelming cauldron of high stress information. This is the critical step in a full comeback after suffering injury.

If this story resonates with you, if you have intrusive mental images that relate to your injury, if you are afraid of getting hurt again, you are not alone.

We can get you back in the game quickly with diminished fear of re-injury and restored confidence.

Contact: robertandrews@tinssp.com

Filed Under: ACL Injury Recovery, Mental Aspects of Sports Injuries, Sports Injuries and Trauma, Sports Injury Recovery, Sports Shut Down and the Mental and Emotional Impact on Athletes Tagged With: Mental impact of injuries, Nolan Peterson, Overcoming sports injuries, PTSD, Sports Injury Trauma

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kierstincollins@tinssp.com
michaelheck@tinssp.com
andreaestrada@tinssp.com
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